Confrontation at Shizugatake

The Battle of Shizugatake occurred in 1577 during the Sengoku period. Though Kenshin Uesugi was victorious at the Battle of Tetorigawa, he was unable to stop the relentless advance of Nobunaga Oda's troops. Kenshin knew that his only remaining option was to defeat Nobunaga himself, but Nobunaga, having just subdued the other western clans, was almost in control of all of Japan. Kenshin decided to march on Kyoto, and he met Nobunaga's army in battle at Shizugatake, intending to do one last battle with him.

Kenshin Uesugi marched into battle with his army, intending on keeping all of his generals alive. Facing him were Ieyasu Tokugawa and Motonari Mori's forces, and Kenshin succeeded in defeating the Mori army before the main Oda army could arrive. Hiroie Kikkawa and Terumoto Mori's forces withdrew upon hearing the news of their lord Motonari's defeat, removing one of the enemy forces from the field. Hanbei Takenaka, Nagayori Hara, and Narimasa Sassa later arrived with Oda reinforcements, intending on advancing on the Uesugi main camp. Kenshin routed these reinforcements and, noticing that Nobunaga was late, he decided to bide for time and focus on the Tokugawa army. He succeeded in penetrating into the Tokugawa camp, but, at the same time, Kanetsugu Naoe advanced too far, leaving the main camp unguarded. Oda reinforcements under Tsuneoki Ikeda and Morimasa Sakuma arrived and began to advance on the Uesugi main camp. Just then, Shingen Takeda and Ujiyasu Hojo arrived with their own reinforcements, promising to aid Kenshin by defending his main camp. Ranmaru Mori and Mitsuhide Akechi then arrived with Oda reinforcements, and Nobunaga arrived at his main camp shortly after. Kenshin helped his allies with defeating Ranmaru and Mitsuhide, allowing for Kenshin and his allies to advance on the Oda main camp. Nobunaga was defeated there, and Kenshin emerged victorious. However, he died before he could advance on Kyoto, and Nobunaga remained the most powerful ruler in the land.